Baby Bear Pumpkin

Planters Guide Baby Bear Pumpkin

Grown as both a novelty and an edible crop Baby Bear pumpkins are favored Halloween decorations and also serve well in pumpkin pie and assorted dishes. The Semi hulless seeds are good for roasting.

The vines are not as cumbersome and lengthy as many other pumpkin varieties so work well in limited areas. Plants produce up to 10 pumpkins per plant under optimal conditions, but it is more common to harvest in the vicinity of 5 or 6 per vine.

Direct seeding pumpkins is not recommended in areas with short growing seasons. Pumpkins need at least three months of frost free, warm weather. If you live in a cool climate, start pumpkins indoors.

Pumpkins have a high water content and need to be kept well watered they are not drought tolerant. Keep the pumpkins evenly moist and water deeply during dry spells. To prevent mildew, water pumpkin plants at their base, avoid watering the pumpkin foliage, as this will minimize the occurrence of opportunistic fungal infestations.

Plant indoors roughly 3-4 weeks before last the final frost date in your region. Soil temperatures for germination should be around 70 degrees F.

Transplant outdoors in the spring after a brief hardening off period, when the temperature is suitable and all danger of frost has passed. Spacing should be 24 - 36 inches.

Pumpkins are heavy feeders and Baby bear is no exception. They need fertile, aerated soil that is 70 to 90 degrees F. Work compost or well-rotted manure into the soil. The ideal Soil pH is 6.0 to 7.5, but they will grow on soils with a pH of up to 8.0.